Bobby Dodd Stadium - Notable Games

Notable Games

October 7, 1916: Georgia Tech 222, Cumberland College 0
In the most lopsided game in American football history, Georgia Tech, under legendary coach John Heisman, defeated Cumberland College 222-0. It has been said that Coach Heisman was repaying the Bulldogs for a 22-0 baseball defeat the previous year in which Cumberland had allegedly used professional players to ensure victory or conversely that he was showing how that running up the score against weak opponents was vastly influential over the voters in college football rating polls. In any case, the Engineers (as the Georgia Tech team was known at the time) never threw a pass and never took more than four plays to score.

November 29, 1917: Georgia Tech 68, Auburn 7
This win marked the end of the first undefeated, untied National Championship season for the Yellow Jackets. In 1917, Georgia Tech would outscore opponents 491-17 in the midst of a 33 game undefeated streak spanning over five seasons.

December 8, 1928: Georgia Tech 20, Georgia 6
This was the culmination of Georgia Tech's second perfect season and National Championship, though the Yellow Jackets would go on to the Rose Bowl to face Cal in what would turn out to be a famous game itself. Georgia Tech played only two away games in its 9-0 regular season lineup hosting Notre Dame, Alabama, Auburn and Georgia. The main reason for this is that many of the other Southern teams' stadiums were not as large or accessible as Grant Field in Midtown Atlanta.

November 15, 1952: #4 Georgia Tech 7, #12 Alabama 3
In one of the biggest games of Georgia Tech's third National Championship season, two of the highest ranked teams to ever face off on Grant Field saw Georgia Tech defeat Alabama in a closely matched defensive battle. Tech, which had already defeated #6 Duke would go on to defeat Florida State, Georgia and undefeated #7 Mississippi (in the Sugar Bowl) in the midst of a 31-game undefeated streak.

November 17, 1962: Georgia Tech 7, #1 Alabama 6
This incredible upset victory over top-ranked Alabama ended the Crimson Tide's 26-game unbeaten streak. Bobby Dodd called it his greatest victory as Tech thwarted Alabama comeback efforts by preventing a two-point conversion attempt and intercepting a Joe Namath pass deep in their own territory with just 1:05 left.

November 6, 1976: Georgia Tech 23, #11 Notre Dame 14
In the most memorable game of a 4-6-1 season, Georgia Tech defeated #11 Notre Dame without throwing a forward pass. After quarterback Gary Lanier was sacked while dropping back to pass in the first quarter, Notre Dame's Ross Browner and Willie Fry celebrated on the field. Georgia Tech coach Pepper Rodgers decided to not allow the Fighting Irish the chance to strut after a sack, and called for a run on every subsequent play. The unusual strategy worked, and the Yellow Jackets upset Notre Dame.

October 13, 1990: #15 Georgia Tech 21, #14 Clemson 19
Only two seasons removed from a dreadful 3-8 1988 season, Coach Bobby Ross had led his team to a 4-0 record to face the Tigers. The Yellow Jackets came out on top of this closely matched battle and would go on to defeat #1 Virginia and #19 Nebraska in the Citrus Bowl for its fourth National Championship.

October 17, 1998: #25 Georgia Tech 41, #7 Virginia 38
In the second meeting between two highly ranked Georgia Tech and Virginia teams (the first being in 1990), Georgia Tech again came out victorious by the same score of 41-38 earning the Yellow Jackets a share of the ACC Championship. Virginia jumped to a big lead in this Georgia Tech homecoming game. Big plays by GT finally put them ahead late in the game, including a dramatic touchdown pass by Joe Hamilton to Dez White. Virginia missed a field goal in the final seconds prompting thousands of Georgia Tech fans to pour onto the field.

November 27, 1999: #16 Georgia Tech 51, #21 Georgia 48 (OT)
In the highest scoring game ever in the series, Georgia overcame a 17-point deficit in the second half to tie the game and appeared to be within easy victory after driving all the way to Tech's 2-yard line with nine seconds left in regulation. Rather than kick a game winning field goal, Georgia coach Jim Donnan called a running play that resulted in a controversial fumble by Jasper Sanks which Georgia Tech recovered in the endzone. In overtime, after intercepting a Georgia pass in the endzone, Tech attempted a field goal on third down in its possession. The kick was blocked, but Tech holder George Godsey recovered the ball. Tech kicker Luke Manget's second chance at the kick was good. The Georgia Tech student section rushed the field and tore down the goal posts.

November 1, 2008: Georgia Tech 31, #16 Florida State 28
Prior to the November 1st meeting between FSU and Georgia Tech, Bobby Bowden was undefeated against Georgia Tech. The last time Georgia Tech defeated Florida State in football was in 1975. During Paul Johnson's first year as Head Coach, Georgia Tech had a 6-2 record going into the game. Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden had never lost to Georgia Tech in 12 meetings. Georgia Tech fell behind by a touchdown twice in the first quarter, but pulled ahead in the 2nd quarter to finish the first half leading 24-20. A third quarter touchdown put Tech up 31-20, but Florida State rallied, scoring a touchdown and converting on the two-point attempt to come within three points. On their final drive Florida State drove down to inside the five yard line. Florida State running back Marcus Sims received the handoff and was headed for the endzone, but was met by Georgia Tech freshman, Cooper Taylor, son of former Tech QB Jim Bob Taylor. The football was knocked loose into the endzone and recovered by Tech freshman Rashaad Reid to secure the victory for the Jackets. Chaos ensued as fans swarmed the field after witnessing their team snap a 12 game losing streak to the Seminoles, Tech's longest to any modern team.

October 17, 2009: #19 Georgia Tech 28, #4 Virginia Tech 23
Played before an emotionally charged crowd, this was the first time Georgia Tech defeated a top 5 team at home since beating No. 1 Alabama 7-6 in 1962. After the victory students rushed the field, tore down the goalpost at the north endzone, and carried it to Georgia Tech President George P. "Bud" Peterson's house. The victory launched the Jackets to #11 in the AP Poll. This was the pivotal game which helped Georgia Tech win the ACC Coastal Division title. Later, the Jackets beat Clemson in the 2009 ACC Championship Game and earned its first conference title since 1998 and its first Orange Bowl berth since 1967.

October 29, 2011: Georgia Tech 31, #5 Clemson 17
Before a sellout crowd of 55,646, Georgia Tech rebounded from two consecutive losses to upset #5 Clemson. The Tigers, who were undefeated before the game, turned the ball over 4 times in the game and allowed Georgia Tech to rush for 383 yards. The Yellow Jackets raced to a 24-3 halftime lead and held off Clemson which was 8-0 for the first time since 2000, when Georgia Tech defeated the then #4 Clemson Tigers. It was Tech's first win against a Top 5 team since defeating #4 Virginia Tech in 2009.